Automatic control for explosion engines



Feb.24, 1925. v I

R. LOSTU RDEVANT AUTOMATIC common FOR axmosmul ENGINES Filed April e,1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2x 1. kszar ew f INVENTORQ ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 24,1925.

. 1,527,579 R. L. STURDEVANT AUTQIATIOCONTROL FOR EXPLOSION ENGINESFiled Aprii e, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7)!1 .Z. LSZZraQZ/a wt 7 INVENTOR.WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES REX L. STURDEVAN'I, 0F MANCHESTER, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR EXPLOSION ENGINES.

Application filed April 6,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that REX L. STURDEVANT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Manchester, in the county of Viashtenaw and State ofMichigan, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticControls for Explosion Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improved control attachment for internalcombustion engines, and it has more particular reference to a device ofthis kind permitting the charge to the cylinders of the engine to beautomatically controlled, in accordance with the demand of the enginefor fuel.

In accordance with the invention, a butterfly valve is installed in theintake manifold and this valve is actuated by solenoids which areresponsive to varying degrees of current acting against a coiled springwith the pull of the solenoids rendered constant by an especially shapedarmature whereby the pull of the solenoids is effectively constant inaccordance with the increased resistance of the spring against whichthey act so that as the speed of the engine increases and the resistanceof the spring correspondingly increases, the pull upon the valve in themanifold correspondingly increases, wherefore the effective pull remainsconstant.

Included in circuit with the solenoids is an adjustable rheostat whichmay be set to vary the effective resistance of the solenoids so that asthe speed of the engine increases or decreases, the amount of currentflowing through the solenoids may be correspondingly increased ordecreased as the case may be and the action of the solenoids istherefore rendered constant.

The solenoids are traversed by a substantially ogee-shaped core orarmature, mounted to turn on a common axis and movable through thesolenoids so as to exert a constant pull on the core as it is drawnabout the common axis, thus equalizing such pull modified by theincrease or decrease of the effect of the current traversing thesolenoids.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming part of this specification with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing in the drawings but may be changed and modifled so longas such changes and modifica- 1923. Serial No. 630,383.

tions mark no material departure from the salient features of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section, and partly in elevation, of adevice constructed in accordance with the present invention.

A Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section through a butterfly valve comprising part of theinvention; and

Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the working parts of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a manifold 1 which mayrepresent the intake manifold of an explosion enginesuch as usuallyemployed in connection with automobiles and this manifold is providedwith flanges 2 having means by which it is attached to the usual pipes 3for conducting the charge to or from the engine cylinders.

Mounted in the flange portion of the in take manifold is: a butterflyflange 1 which may be of usual constnuction and carried by a shaft 5 inturn carried by bearings 6 enclosed in a casing 7 about which thebutterfly valve may turn as an axis.

Fastened to the shaft 5 is a substantially ogee-shaped core or armature8 with its curved portion or branches oppositely disposed and concentricwith the casing 7. In the casing 7 are oppositely directed arcuatesolenoids 9 carried by blocks 10 made fast to and contained within thecasing 7.

Fastened to the shaft 5 is a helical spring 11 to oppose the movement ofthe core. The curved branches of the armature enter the solenoids 9 andwind the spring 11 when the solenoids are energized.

The two solenoids 9 are connected in series by conductors 12 and 13respectively, with the conductor 12 connected to the brush 14-. which isin turn connected to the armature 15 of a dynamo electric machinecarried by the shaft 16. The conductor 13 includes a rheostat 17 forcontrolling the amount of current flowing through the solenoids 9 forthe manual regulation of the energization of said solenoids.

The manifold 1 is designed to be installed in the path of flow of thecharges and the flow of current through the solenoids 9 to regulate theposition of the butterfly valve 4 to control the flow of the charges inaccordance with the speed of the engine so that as the speed of theengine increases the position of the valve i will be changed to reducethe amount of charges permitted to flow past the valve 4: in accordancewith said speed so that the action of the invention is wholly automaticexcept that the rheostat 17 may be further controlled to regulate theamount of current passing through the solenoids 9.

hat is claimed is:

Means for controlling the supply of gaseous fuel comprising a casing, avalve of the butterfly type pivotally mounted therein and having itsstem projecting beyond the side of the casing, a helical spring mountedupon the casing and connected with the valve stem to hold the valve at anormal position with relation to the passageway through the casing,arcuate solenoids mounted upon the casing at opposite sides of the valvestem and connected in open circuit, and an ogeeshaped armature mountedat a point midway between its ends upon the stem and having its curvedend portions slidably received in the arcuate solenoids.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature.

REX L. sTURDEviiNr.

